India and UAE Launch Mountain Guardian 2026 Military Exercise

The Indian Army and the UAE Army launched Mountain Guardian 2026 on October 5 at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubatia, Uttarakhand. The joint military exercise, which runs through October 18, focuses on enhancing interoperability and cooperation in mountain warfare and high-altitude operations.

A total of 92 personnel are participating in the drills, with equal representation from the Indian Army's Bhairav Battalion and the UAE Army's Mountain Infantry Battalion. The contingent includes women officers and combatants serving in specialist roles.

Training activities include joint planning, tactical drills, firing practices, and the establishment of surveillance grids. The exercise incorporates technology-enabled operations, such as drone operations, alongside physical endurance training including rock climbing. According to the Ministry of Defence of India, the program facilitates the exchange of tactics and professional experience in challenging mountainous terrain to strengthen bilateral trust and military-to-military bonds.